As Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, its cities are trying to improve their public transit systems.
The City Fix's Victoria Broadus takes a look at some of the plans underway and the roughly $6.5 billion the government will spend to update its urban mobility systems.
"The federal government has set aside R$7.68 billion (US$4.34 billion) for 'urban mobility' infrastructure improvements in host cities; state and local governments have committed an additional R$3.8 billion (about US$2.15 billion), bringing the total to R$11.48 billion (US$6.48 billion). Private investments will increase this figure. Ideally, transit projects should be nearly complete by the Confederations Cup, which will Brazil will host in 2013 as a prelude to the World Cup.
Federal funds are being administered by Pro-Transporte, a Ministry of Cities program with the objective of promoting 'collective urban transportation projects for physical, economic, and social development, improvements in quality of life, and environmental preservation.'"
FULL STORY: Spotlight on the World Cup: Brazil Gears Up for Games with Urban Transit Investments
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